Business

September 19, 2014

Patients at one of the Midlands’ newest hospitals will see more services arrive in just a few weeks. Opening to the public and patients is a new spa at Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge in Irmo made possible through a partnership between Palmetto Health and Healing Waters, an award-winning spa and plastic surgery clinic. Select amenities offered at the 6,931-square-foot spa will be…

September 18, 2014

Senior Resources Inc., an advocacy group and program provider to hundreds of senior citizens in the Midlands, unveiled the rebranding of its organization and new website Wednesday. The changes are all apart of the nonprofit’s goal of advancing its mission of “empowering seniors to remain healthy and independent.” “We are excited to reveal our new image because it does a…

September 17, 2014

A Lexington-based small business that also happens to be family-owned-and-operated is expanding on Main Street. Bartlett Financial officials are not just building new space for themselves, however, but say they also are creating opportunities for other businesses. Barlett Financial staffers breaks ground on the first phase of expansion in Lexington. (photo by Rachel Ham) Founder Ron Bartlett and co-owner Heath…

September 16, 2014

Officials at Belk have announced the closing of a Columbia location. The store in Dutch Square Mall is shutting down in January. According to Jessica Graham, vice president of Communications and Community Relations, the 91 associates employed there were informed last week. Belk will be focusing “resources and efforts on the expansion and renovation of (the) flagship store at Columbiana Mall…

September 14, 2014

Ninety-five percent of South Carolina’s economy is small businesses, according to statistics from the state Department of Commerce. Small business owners from around the region heard Friday from national experts about technology that can help their shops and stores thrive. The Minority Business Roundtable was presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration and MasterCard’s Master Your Card program, an educational program…

September 5, 2014

For the past 100 years, Palmetto Health Baptist hospital has lived out its mission of Christian service in the Midlands. Hospital officials and employees on Thursday celebrated the milestone by reflecting on the hospital’s history and revealing the contents of a time capsule that will be placed in the building’s wall. “The people of Baptist have always been focused on…

August 31, 2014

The crowds at the recent Forrest Wood Cup and expo demonstrated the level of interest in fishing in the Columbia area, and a new local business is hoping to attract some of those lovers of lures to Five Points. Tomahawk Fishing Shop is open for business on Harden Street in Five Points (photo by Allen Wallace). Tomahawk Fishing Shop is…

August 27, 2014

Businesses in Columbia have an opportunity to join Main Street’s resurgence courtesy of a new program offered by the city. The Office of Business Opportunities on Tuesday unveiled its Main Street Capital program, which will offer loans to increase the number of retail stores in the district. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin speaks to a crowd about the new Main Street…

August 27, 2014

Cayce City Councilman Tim James picked up the 2014 Citizen of the Year award Tuesday from the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber. (photo by Rachel Ham) The West Metro Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual slate of awards Tuesday night, but the plaques and trophies the winners received read a little differently than in previous years. Before the best…

August 23, 2014

The University of South Carolina is creating a greater presence on Main Street. The business district’s newest retail store, The Nest, now carries books exclusively published by USC Press. “Being able to offer such a large selection of top-quality regional interest books from USC Press in one convenient downtown location is a great opportunity for the booklovers of Columbia,” said…

August 20, 2014

It’s been a long time since customers could stop in for a $2.50 pizza or a 30 cent soft drink at a restaurant, but Mellow Mushroom locations in downtown Columbia and in Lexington will take guests on a trip back in time Aug. 20. Mellow Mushroom in The Vista will join in the chain’s 40th anniversary celebration Wednesday. (photo by Allen…

August 20, 2014

Many restaurants hold a grand opening ceremony on the first day of business or shortly thereafter, but one local spot’s owner chose to wait until her restaurant displayed its staying power. M Grille owner Michelle Wang cuts the ribbon with help from her husband at Tuesday’s ceremony, as her employees cheer her on. (photo by Allen Wallace) M Grille celebrated its…

August 19, 2014

Officials in the City of Columbia’s Economic Development Department have partnered with the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to reach out to the city’s budding business community. City officials announced the collaboration Monday as part of its Business in Motion program, which is designed to increase and retain the number of local businesses in the Columbia area. The City of…

August 18, 2014

Beer lovers who enjoy seeing how their beverage of choice is made have another local option. Guests sample the Swamp Cabbage brews at Sunday’s grand opening. (photo by Allen Wallace) Swamp Cabbage Brewing Co., which recently launched its line of drinks, opened its 921 Brookwood Drive brewery Sunday for public visits, tours and tastings; and more than 800 people came…

August 11, 2014

The Jim Hamilton-LB Owens Airport is expanding its capabilities in aircraft maintenance and repair. Camden-based Aircraft Maintenance Services has relocated its headquarters to the airport. Owens Field Airport welcomes Aircraft Maintenance Services to relocate its headquarters to the airport. (photo provided) “It’s long been a goal of mine to return to CUB where I worked as a mechanic many years…

August 9, 2014

Palmetto Health Foundation’s vice president of public relations is one of 15 people nationwide selected for induction into the Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows. Amy Coward of Palmetto Health Foundation (photo provided) Amy Coward officially will be inducted later this year in Washington, D.C. Coward has been with Palmetto Health Foundation since 2005 and served as chief…

August 8, 2014

South Carolina’s leading business organization has taken a side in the gubernatorial contest between current Republican Gov. Nikki Haley and her Democratic challenger state Sen. Vincent Sheheen. Gov. Nikki Haley (photo by Allen Wallace) Haley spent Thursday traveling to four cities across the state with representatives of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce to accept the organization’s endorsement of her…

August 8, 2014

It was Monday, August 7, 1944. World War II raged in Europe, as the Germans fought to repel the Allied invasion, which had come just two months and a day before. On the home front, IBM unveiled the first program-controlled calculator, and in Columbia, a locally owned business — then called Todd’s Sporting Goods — opened its doors for the first time….

August 6, 2014

A Columbia business that first opened its doors during World War II will celebrate its 70th anniversary Thursday. Todd & Moore Sporting Goods has been locally owned and operated since it first opened as Todd’s Sporting Goods on South Main Street in 1944. Thursday’s celebration will be an all-day event at the 620 Huger St. store with special sales and giveaways…

August 4, 2014

Skyaa’s Caribbean Restaurant is serving up the best of chef Skyaa Gauntlett’s dishes in Cayce. (photo by Rachel Ham) Tonya Hamilton and Rashad Savoy have launched their first restaurant with a family friend manning the kitchen. The partners opened the doors of Skyaa’s Caribbean Restaurant, Bar and Grill last month and on Friday were welcomed into the West Metro Chamber…

August 3, 2014

The Giving Tree is a thrift store with a twist, and that twist could be a boon to local charities. The crowd lined up for The Giving Tree’s grand opening Saturday at Dutch Square mall. (photo provided) The new business held its grand opening Saturday, and a line of more than 100 eager customers stretched down the halls of Dutch…

July 29, 2014

Lexington Medical Center employee John Leech has been accepted into the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. (photo provided) A Lexington Medical Center employee who aids patients making significant lifestyle changes in order to improve their health has been accepted into a prestigious national organization. John Leech, manager of the hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program, has become a Fellow of…

July 28, 2014

A Columbia restaurant that has been open since 1982 will be getting a face-lift. The Lizard’s Thicket at 402 Beltline Blvd. will close for several weeks for renovations beginning Aug. 3. Lizard’s Thicket will announce plans for the grand reopening of the Beltline location later in August. “We have so many long-time customers that love the Lizard’s Thicket Beltline location,…

July 28, 2014

Many things have changed over the past eight years in the Midlands, and many businesses have come and gone, but Chef Mike Davis’ Terra has remained. Davis will celebrate the restaurant’s eighth anniversary this week by paying tribute to some of the people who, as he puts it, “shaped us to become what we are today.” Terra celebrates its eighth anniversary…

July 28, 2014

The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism recently hired its newest spokesperson. The organization selected Andrea Mensink to be director of communications. The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism has hired Andrea Mensink to serve as director of communications. (photo provided) “We could not be happier to have Andrea join our team,” said Bill Ellen, president and CEO…